Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched its plan for implementing the U.S National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), directing implementation of the United States’ first-ever National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security. USAID developed the plan to specify how the Agency will implement the NAP. In doing so, USAID will seek to better engage, empower, and ensure the protection of women and girls in countries affected by or emerging from conflict or crisis, those experiencing high levels of insecurity at national or sub-national levels, those recovering from a natural disaster, or those experiencing a significant political transition.

Today in Istanbul, Secretary Clinton announced the United States is providing an additional $5.5 million in humanitarian assistance for those affected by the ongoing Syrian conflict, bringing the total U.S. contribution for this crisis to nearly $82 million.

Today, the United States launched its strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally. The strategy outlines four key objectives: to increase coordination of gender-based violence prevention and response efforts among United States Government (USG) agencies and with other stakeholders; to enhance integration of gender-based violence prevention and response efforts into existing USG work; to improve collection, analysis, and use of data and research to enhance gender-based violence prevention and response efforts; and to enhance or expand USG programming that addresses gender-based violence. The Strategy was congressionally requested and was drafted by USAID, the U.S. Department of State and other relevant U.S. agencies.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On behalf of President Obama, Secretary Clinton and the American people, I have sent my deepest condolences to the family of USAID Foreign Service Officer Ragaei Abdelfattah who died yesterday in Afghanistan along with several members of the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan civilians during a terrorist attack in Kunar Province. This tragedy is a testament to the deep commitment and sacrifice of our dedicated staff who serve in conflict countries like Afghanistan around the world.

WASHINGTON – Today, the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), UNITAID, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced an agreement that will significantly reduce the cost of a new, highly accurate, rapid diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB) in 145 high-burden and developing countries.

On August 1st, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah will be honored at the Inaugural Aspen Institute Madeleine K. Albright Global Development Lecture in Aspen Colorado. Administrator Shah will deliver the first ever lecture on “Open-Source Development”.

Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Assistant Administrator for the Middle East, Mara Rudman, swore in Azza El-Abd as the new Mission Director for Lebanon. As Mission Director for Lebanon, Ms. El-Abd will lead development assistance efforts to: improve quality education, water and other public services in Lebanon; strengthen civil society’s ability to promote good governance; and enhance economic opportunity for the poorest segments of Lebanese society.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced today that U.S. Olympic soccer star Abby Wambach will serve as the agency’s first-ever Development Champion. In this role, Wambach will raise awareness of the work USAID is undertaking to improve the lives of young women and girls through sport around the world.

WASHINGTON D.C. – David Barth was sworn in today as the new United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator, administered the oath of office.

The U.K. Government’s Department for International Development (DFID), and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), announced at the AIDS 2012 conference a partnership to expand access to anti-retroviral treatment in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has an adult HIV prevalence of 15 per cent, with an estimated 600,000 adults and children eligible for treatment. The U.K. and PEPFAR are together covering approximately 25 per cent of this need.

Today, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah met with His Excellency Laurent Lamothe, Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti, at USAID. In addition, Deputy Administrator Donald Steinberg met with Haitian First Lady Sophia Martelly.

On July 26th, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Rajiv Shah will host the second day of the annual Global Diaspora Forum at USAID in Washington, D.C. Administrator Shah will deliver keynote remarks on Thursday, July 26th and announce new initiatives building on the U.S. government’s efforts to partner with diaspora community groups. Sessions throughout the day will focus on public-private partnerships and identify new opportunities for engagement with the U.S. Government. Media must RSVP to attend the events.

I was surprised and saddened to learn today of President John Atta Mills’ sudden death. On behalf of USAID, I extend my sympathies to President Mills’ family and all Ghanaians for their loss. President Mills’ lifetime of service helped to shape Ghana into a model of good governance and an anchor of stability for the entire region.

This evening the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the World Health Organization (WHO), AVAC and Champions for an HIV-Free Generation brought together African political and traditional leaders, as well as key figures in the international HIV response, for a satellite event at the 19th International AIDS Conference 2012. This unique group of leaders shared their views on the challenges and solutions to Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) for HIV prevention in East and Southern Africa. Three clinical trials have proven that VMMC can reduce female to male transmission of HIV by approximately 60%. If scaled up to reach 80% of adolescents and adult men within five years, and coverage is thereafter maintained, VMMC has the potential to avert more than 3.4 million new HIV infections and save an estimated US $16.5 billion in care and treatment costs over the next 15 years.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Dr. Rajiv Shah, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will be participating in numerous events throughout the 19th International AIDS Conference week. On Tuesday, July 24th, Administrator Shah will participate in a press conference at the Walter E Washington Convention Center.

Today, USAID Administrator Raj Shah swore in James Watson as the new Mission Director for Honduras. Mr. Watson will lead development assistance efforts to foster citizen security and social justice, increase food security and economic growth, and improve education and health.

Today, Banque Centrale de Tunisie (CBT), acting on behalf of the Republic of Tunisia, closed on its offering of a $485 million sovereign bond, guaranteed by the United States of America, acting through the U.S. Agency for International Development. This guarantee reinforces the strong U.S. commitment to the people of Tunisia by strengthening the Government of Tunisia’s ability to manage the transition to an economically sound and prosperous democracy. The closing of this loan guarantee marks the conclusion of an accelerated process that U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Tunisian Finance Minister Houcine Dimassi affirmed last April 20, 2012, when they signed a declaration of intent committing both sides to proceed as quickly as possible on this program.

Innovations that demonstrated the most promising solutions to address the causes of maternal and newborn deaths in hard-to-reach, low-resource settings were nominated tonight for award at the Saving Lives at Birth DevelopmentXChange at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The nominees will now enter into final negotiations before awards can be issued.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Jeffrey Ashley was sworn in as the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Mission Director for the East Africa Regional Mission based in Nairobi, Kenya. USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah presided at the event and administered the oath of office to Dr. Ashley.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and fellow founding partners NASA, the U.S. Department of State, and NIKE, Inc. announced today the nine innovators selected to participate in their LAUNCH: Beyond Waste challenge. LAUNCH is a unique program that aims to identify and accelerate solutions to the world's most urgent sustainability challenges. The current program cycle is focused on waste, and the finalists were chosen for their groundbreaking technologies and programs that address a broad range of waste issues, including waste-to-energy, agricultural waste and conservation, medical waste, sustainable chemicals and materials, and improved sanitation.